Chinese pickles (Xián cài)

In China, pickling food is an ancient tradition dating back to the Zhou dynasty era, and today there are more than 130 different kinds of Chinese pickles. Home pickling is so important that there are even special porcelain urns used only for the preparation of this flavorful appetizer or side dish.

Most commonly, the pickled ingredients include cabbage, eggs, lettuce hearts, cucumbers, mustards, radishes, and bamboo shoots. The ingredients are pickled in a combination of water and vinegar that can be enhanced with anything from Sichuan peppercorns to ginger, in order to give the pickles a unique flavor.

When served on the side, they are often used as a palate cleanser. Regardless of the endless varieties of Chinese pickles, the only important thing is that they are all extremely flavorful and provide extra crunch to a variety of main dishes.